Over the past year, the Carbon River Corridor Cooperative Action Plan project team has had several conversations with landowners and stakeholders to determine how best to balance recreational needs while preserving historical and natural resources throughout the Carbon River area. The team has developed the Draft Carbon River Corridor Cooperative Action Plan (CAP), which identifies priorities and intended actions for recreation, information/education, enforcement and conservation for the next 10 years. The CAP is now available for public review. From Sept. 10 through Oct. 1, the public is invited to visit the CAP online open house to review the draft plan and provide input.
The Carbon River Corridor extends a little more than 20 miles alongside the Carbon River, including the towns of Wilkeson and Carbonado, and leads to the Carbon River entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. This river corridor continues to experience a growing demand for recreational opportunities and visitor services as well as an increasing concern for the impact of illegal and unsanctioned activities on the region’s historical and natural resources.
The CAP represents over a year of intentional conversations with major landowners, stakeholders and the public to capture current and future priority actions that are under consideration and which can be collaboratively achieved by all parties. There will be hard copies of the CAP available at Buckley Library and Wilkeson City Hall.
“Public input on the future of the Carbon River Corridor is extremely important to this project to provide more public access to recreation while balancing conservation of the environment and cultural resources,” said Roxanne Miles, Pierce County Parks Director. “Engaging with the community on the future of this beautiful land will ensure we are supporting both the local needs and wishes as well as continuing our dedication to protecting our natural resources and ecosystems for years to come.”
The plan’s goal is to identify a holistic approach to conserve the area’s natural resources and protect regional cultural heritage, while at the same time providing additional visitor services to the growing numbers of recreation users in the corridor. The identified approach will serve as a guide for development and services in the corridor for the next 10 years.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Emmi Buck, public information specialist
253-316-6159
[email protected]